The Suez, which had a Pakistani crew, had been released after being captured by Somali pirates. - File photo

KARACHI: The return journey of the freed crew of MV Suez has hit snags as the vessel has run out of fuel and become a dead weight in rough seas south of Oman’s Salalah port.

According to sources, the PNS Babur is escorting it to safety and providing it protection from pirates. The source said here on Saturday that some other technical problems had also cropped up in MV Suez.

PNS Babur offered the crew to come onboard the ship so that they can be transferred to Salalah, but they declined the offer for unknown reasons.

The owner of the Panama-registered vessel has reportedly sent a tug from Salalah to tow the stranded vessel which is expected to reach there by Sunday morning. Since the speed of the tug, Hasik, is said to be six knots, it will take it till Monday evening to drag the MV Suez to its destination.